Charlotte arts drive raises $8.3 million

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Arts & Science Council met its goals for its 2011 fundraising effort, including $7.3 million for its annual campaign and another $1 million for cultural-education programs in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Chaired by Charles Bowman, Charlotte and North Carolina market president, and special advisor on remediation strategies, for Bank of America, the campaign was extended by two weeks to reach its $7.3 million goal.

In those two weeks, individual and corporate donors met a $100,000 challenge grant from The Leon Levine Foundation.

The campaign also received 179 corporate gifts, with 427 companies participating in workplace campaigns.

Of those workplace campaigns, 72 exceeded their goals, with 25 of those campaigns exceeding their goals by $8,000 or more.

New corporate donors or first-time employee campaigns that generated over $5,000 for the fundraising effort included Husqvarna, Forbo Siegling, CPI Security Services, Marsh Properties and Electrolux.

The council says that for every dollar it receives, 87 cents supports its mission of building appreciation, participation and support for the arts, science, history and heritage in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.